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NorthEast United FC travelled to play Mumbai City FC for a crucial Indian Super League encounter. Mumbai City FC is almost sure to make the playoffs.
NorthEast United's hopes of a playoff berth kept hanging by a thread as one slump could have ruined their hopes of a first playoff appearance.
With Jamshedpur FC and ATK close on the Highlanders' heels in the points table, it was a do or die situation for NorthEast United FC to keep themselves in the top four.
The game started on a bright note for the visitors as they took the lead early in the fourth minute through a Rowllin Borges strike.
After taking the lead, the Highlanders took control of the game. NorthEast United scored another goal before half-time through Ogbeche.
Mumbai City FC tried hard to get back into the game in the second half, but the Northeast United defence stood strong.
The game ended with NorthEast United FC beating Mumbai City FC 2-0. It was also Northeast United's first victory over Mumbai City after 2015.
On that note let us take a look at five talking points from today's game.
#5 Lucian Goain and Subhasish Bose missed dearly by Mumbai City FC
Mumbai was without two of their crucial defenders for the game against NorthEast United FC.
Lucian Goain and Subhasish Bose were ruled out of the tie against Northeast United due to suspension and injury respectively.
Goain has been the guiding force for Mumbai City FC for a few seasons now.
The Mumbai defence looked at sixes and sevens playing without their main defenders. Subhasish Bose has been one of the best defenders in the Indian Super League from last season and has been vital for Mumbai City FC this season.
The defensive duo have played a major role for Mumbai City FC, and without them, the Northeast United attackers ran through them with ease. The Mumbai defence made schoolboy errors which cost them the match.
Without Lucian Goain, Mumbai City were left without a leader on the pitch, and it affected their performance.
#4 Rowllin Borges and Joseph Leudo formed the spine for NorthEast United FC
If Ogbeche is the heart of this NorthEast United side, then Rowllin and Leudo are the backbones of this unit. Both the central midfielders of Northeast United FC have been brilliant this season and today was no different.
Both Leudo and Rowllin had an impressive game, and it was latter who started the scoring for NorthEast United FC.
His finesse from the edge of the box in the fourth minute was perfect as it went into the top corner leaving Amrinder with no chance to save the shot.
Leudo had an absolute gem of a game as he stopped almost everything that Mumbai created in midfield. His interceptions and blocking of passing channels were top class today.
It is safe to say that Leudo and Rowllin are the chief architects of today's victory. Rowllin was rightly awarded the man of the match award for his performance today.
With a foot in the playoffs position, NorthEast United have to thank Rowllin and Leudo for their performance throughout the season.
#3 All to play for both NorthEast United and Mumbai City FC in the remaining games
Both, NorthEast United FC and Mumbai City FC are in the top four of the Indian Super League. Both the teams look set to make the playoffs this season, but a slump in the last two games can see both of them miss out on the playoff spots.
Mumbai have Pune, and ATK left to face, while NorthEast United have Pune and Kerala Blasters.
If either the Islanders or Highlanders lose their remaining two games and Jamshedpur and ATK manage to win their next assignments, then things would be very different for the both the Bollywood star owned teams.
As per the current standing, both NorthEast United and Mumbai have played 16 games each with 27 points, while Jamshedpur and ATK have a game in hand compared to both the teams.
FC Pune City, who has no hope of making the playoff, will play a crucial role in deciding who go through as they are to face both Mumbai and Northeast United FC.
Jamshedpur and ATK will be hoping that Pune pulls up their socks and do both the teams' huge favour by defeating Mumbai City FC and NorthEast United FC.
#2 Both NorthEast United Wing-backs manage to get assists
It is not typical for a team like NorthEast United to see both their wing backs get assists in the same game let alone the same half. Today was such a special day for the Highlanders where both their wing backs Keegan and Reagan managed to get assists in the game.
Keegan got his assist in the fourth min when he darted down the left flank and cut the ball back to an onrushing Rowllin Borges who made no mistake to score past Amrinder Singh and give Northeast United the lead.
Reagan got his assist in the 33rd minute when Gallego fed him a ball in the right flank, and his inch-perfect cross found Ogbeche's shins and helped the Nigerian score his 12th goal of the season and double Northeast United's lead.
Reagan's cross was probably one of the best crosses of the season as it landed right at Ogbeche's feet and the Nigerian had to do nothing but touch the ball.
Reagan has been facing a lot of backlash from the fans primarily for his poor crossing during the season, but the fans would be overjoyed seeing his performance today.
Keegan has always been known to be a good crosser of the ball and has done it a few times already this season.
With both the wing backs getting assists coach Eelco Schattorie would be pleased to see his defenders getting assists and helping out the midfielders in that aspect.
#1 Eelco Schattorie, the man who turned around Northeast United FC
Irrespective of what happens this season, it has already been Northeast United FC's most successful CAMPAIGN on the pitch in terms of performance and points gained.
Keeping the points aside, Eelco has been successful in implementing a footballing philosophy and style which was not seen before in NorthEast United FC.
People are still pragmatic to the fact that Indian teams can play with the ball at the feet and play a passing brand of football.
While teams like Bengaluru FC and FC Goa have implemented a passing brand of football, they had at their helm some of the best Indian players available technically.
This NorthEast side neither had the budget of Bengaluru FC and FC Goa to get foreign players and nor did they have the best Indian players available in their squad, yet Eelco has been able to produce good football with the resources available.
He has molded players like Puitea and Redeem in ways that weren't seen before. His use of Rowllin Borges has shown the country a different dimension fo the Goanese midfielder one that the nation wasn't accustomed to seeing.
Idolising the likes of Johan Cyruff and Pep Guardiola, Eelco Schattorie has managed to impart some parts of the knowledge that these greats have preached to his side.
NorthEast also have the lowest number of members in their squad, and their bench strength is minimal, but Eelco has also overcome those issues along with injuries to make Northeast United a team to reckon with.
He has also managed to make NorthEast United FC one of the best travelling teams in the country.
It is safe to say that Eelco Schattorie is the best coach NEUFC have had in the ISL so far.
Also See: ISL Schedule I ISL Points Table I ISL Results
